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WORLD CONGRESS “ARISTOTLE 2400 YEARS”

UNDER THE AUSPICES OF H.E. THE PRESIDENT OF THE HELLENIC REPUBLIC,

MR. PROKOPIOS PAVLOPOULOS

May 23-28, 2016

In May 23-28, 2016, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH) hosted the impressive number of 250 Aristotle scholars from 40 countries all over the world, who had come to participate in the World Congress “Aristotle 2400 Years.” The Congress was organized by the Interdisciplinary Centre for Aristotle Studies (DIKAM) of AUTH, in celebration of the 2400th anniversary from Aristotle’s birth. It was held at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, in ancient Stageira, the birthplace of Aristotle and in ancient Mieza, the place where Aristotle taught Alexander the Great. The Congress was under the auspices of the President of the Hellenic Republic; it also had the full support of the Fédération Internationale des Sociétés de Philosophie (FISP), the Academy of Athens and the Hellenic National Commission for UNESCO.

The aim of the Congress was to advance scholarship on all aspects of Aristotle’s work, which spreads over the broadest range of topics, covering all major branches of Philosophy and extending in an impressive way into areas related to all fundamental fields of science; a work whose impact is unique in size and influence in the history of the human intellect and which continues to be present in the intellectual evolution of Western civilization.

The proclamation by UNESCO of 2016 as the “Aristotle Anniversary Year”—an initiative which was launched by the Interdisciplinary Centre for Aristotle Studies in 2013, and was realized with the collaboration of the Hellenic National Commission for UNESCO—provided the ground for highlighting the fact that Aristotle belongs to the entire world.

It is true that this Congress was organized in a period of extremely difficult circumstances for Greece. However, it has been our belief that, especially under these circumstances, it was extremely important to highlight and promote our intellectual and cultural heritage, which is, at the same time, an integral part of the cultural heritage of the whole world. Indeed, the outcome of the Congress has been most rewarding.

We, thus, believe that this worldwide recognition of the philosopher, who has contributed more than any other in the shaping of human intellect, the high quality of the contributed papers, the excellence of talks of the leading Aristotle scholars, who participated as Invited Speakers, will stand out as the most prestigious celebration among all the events to be organized in the “AristotleYear” and will remain as a point of reference in the years to come.